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Dedra’s Backstory in Andor Is Not Actually a Plot Hole (And It Reveals a Dark Truth About the Galactic Republic)

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In the series Andor, they intentionally made their villains more relatable by delving into their personal lives, such as the surprising romantic connection between Syril Karn and Dedra Meero. During an episode titled “Harvest,” Dedra encountered someone new. As they chatted uneasily, Eedy inquired about Dedra’s family background. Dedra revealed that she didn’t have one because her parents were arrested when she was just three years old. She was then raised in an Imperial orphanage and had been influenced by the Galactic Empire most of her life, which explained her stern demeanor and unwavering loyalty to the empire. However, there seemed to be some inconsistencies in Dedra’s backstory timeline.

In the movie “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” we see events unfold in the year 19 BBY, which is the earliest possible date for an Imperial kinder-block to have been established. The event called “Harvest” happened 15 years later, in 4 BBY. If Dedra was admitted into the kinder-block when she was three, it’s unlikely that she would have been older than 18 during “Harvest.” However, there is no confirmed age for Dedra, but the actress who played her, Denise Gough, was around 42 to 44 years old while filming the second season of “Andor.” This apparent inconsistency can be explained by examining the Empire’s history and it underscores some weaknesses in the Galactic Republic.

Chancellor Palpatine Slowly Corrupted the Galactic Republic

The change from the Republic to the Empire wasn’t an instantaneous event; rather, it was the end result of a prolonged process that had been underway for quite some time. Palpatine, who was elected Supreme Chancellor in 32 BBY during the happenings portrayed in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” subtly steered the Republic towards his personal ambitions from the outset. For instance, he pushed through legislation such as the Military Creation Act and the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act, which augmented the military and police presence across the galaxy.

Palpatine strategically initiated the Clone Wars to strengthen his rule, granting him extraordinary powers that kept him in office for an extended period. The vast majority of the Galactic Senate backed Palpatine, making him, in essence, the Emperor except for the title. As the Republic started to transform into the Empire, the early Empire retained some remnants of the Republic. It took a while for clone soldiers to be replaced by human troops, and during this transition, the Empire used clone troopers, their weapons, and vehicles. The Senate, though with diminished authority, persisted until the occurrences depicted in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

The Galactic Empire Was All That Mattered to Dedra

Palpatine aimed to appear as an authentic ruler who cared about the welfare of the galaxy, which involved making changes subtly. Since these changes occurred gradually, many inhabitants of the galaxy, particularly those unaffected by the Clone Wars, barely noticed the distinction between the Republic and the Empire. Additionally, to erase the memory of the Republic, he made it seem like the Imperial way of life was the only viable choice. This manipulation of history provides an explanation for one of the peculiar inconsistencies between the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequels; in A New Hope, everyone behaved as if the Jedi and the Republic were ancient history, despite their existence being less than two decades past.

In the place where Dedra spent her childhood years, it likely began as a type of orphanage under a Republic system. Later, following Palpatine’s takeover, this facility was transformed into an Imperial daycare center. To a young child residing there, the transition in administration may not have made much difference. If Dedra did recall life before the Imperial rule, she was so devoted to the Empire that she would prefer to highlight the Imperial connections of the daycare center instead. In the series ‘Andor’, Dedra was known for deceiving everyone from her peers to her boyfriend. It wouldn’t be surprising if she twisted the truth to emphasize her point to Eedy. The timeline discrepancy could have been an oversight in the writers’ room, but it can be rationalized within the broader ‘Star Wars’ lore by considering established facts.

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2025-05-23 17:50

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